What is a Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a gradual painful condition of your shoulder joint that persists for more than 3 months. It causes the shoulder to become stiff and painful. Signs and symptoms typically begin slowly, then get worse. Over time, symptoms get better, usually within 1 to 3 years.
What Happened?
Every joint is covered by a capsule that is called synovium.Frozen shoulder Treatment happens when your shoulder joint becomes inflamed, which will lead to fibrosis (thickening and scarring) the shoulder capsule. This results in limitation of your shoulder range of motion. Overtime, your daily routines will be affected! Moving your arm in certain angles is painful.
Stages of frozen shoulder are:
- Freezing (2 to 9 months): Movements of shoulder causing pain and shoulder ROM limited
- Frozen (4 to 12 months): Pain lessen, shoulder become more stiff.Difficult to movements
- Thawing (12 to 42 months): Shoulder movement improve
What Causes Frozen Shoulder?
There is no main cause! Some may be associated with other illnesses and some might be associated with shoulder trauma or injury. A few studies have reported the following risk factor to having frozen shoulders. Risk factor is something that increases the chance of developing a disease (NOT meaning that you confirm you will have this condition- the condition below can increase the chance of a frozen shoulder).
Risk for developing frozen shoulder:
- Age (40 years above)
- Gender (Women tend to get the condition more than men)
- Reduce shoulder mobility in daily activity
- Stroke
- Post surgery
- Fracture
- Shoulder injuries
- Systemic & cardiovascular diseases
- Diabetes
- Thyroid problems
- Parkinson’s diseases
How Do I Know I Have A Frozen Shoulder?
A few signs to take note of. You would realize your shoulder movements are starting to be limited along with an increase in pain if you try to exert the movement. Ideally, If you find combing your hair, scratching your back or reaching for your opposite shoulder is difficult, there are high chances you may be having one.
Hold back there, now let’s not get anxious or worried if any of these movements are difficult. It may be another condition that may look like a frozen shoulder too!
Next step is to get yourself checked by a doctor or a physiotherapist for a professional opinion and diagnosis. There are special tests that they will perform to help you identify if you have one. Let’s not wait too long till you are unable to do those movements and then only consider seeking help. The sooner you find out and work on the treatments, the sooner your recovery will be!
Frozen shoulder, also known as frozen shoulder, is a condition that causes pain and stiffness in a person’s shoulder. This usually occurs when the tissue around the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and thickens, causing joint space to become restricted.
This inflammation can occur in the tissue surrounding the shoulder joint known as the joint capsule. The joint capsule is a layer of tissue that protects the joint and also produces synovial fluid, which helps smooth the movement of the joint.
However, when the joint capsule becomes inflamed, it can cause the surrounding tissues to thicken and stiffen. This prevents movement of the shoulder joint, which causes the shoulder to freeze.
Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder
Some of the symptoms commonly associated with frozen shoulder are:
- Severe shoulder pain
- Stiffness and restriction of shoulder movement
- Difficulty moving the shoulder
- Difficulty doing daily activities such as picking up items from the shelf or putting on clothes
- Difficulty sleeping on the side of the affected shoulder
Diagnosis of Frozen Shoulder
To diagnose frozen shoulder, the doctor will likely perform a physical examination and check the patient’s health history. They may also perform tests such as X-rays or an MRI to make sure that the symptoms are caused by a frozen shoulder and not another condition.
Frozen Shoulder Treatment
Treatment of frozen shoulder depends on the severity of the condition and how long it has been going on. Common treatments include:
Physiotherapy – physical therapy exercises and techniques can help restore normal movement to the shoulder joint. This may involve exercises that help improve joint strength and efficiency.
Manual therapy – manual therapy such as massage and massage can help loosen the joint capsule and surrounding tissue.
Medicines – doctors may prescribe medicines to reduce pain and inflammation.
Surgery – if other treatments are unsuccessful, the doctor may refer the patient for surgery. This is usually only done if the condition is very severe or if other treatments have not worked.
Ways to Prevent Frozen Shoulder
To prevent frozen shoulder, you can take steps such as:
Exercise regularly – regular exercise can help improve the strength and efficiency of the shoulder joint.
Maintaining proper posture – taking time to sit and stand properly can help reduce injuries and pain in the shoulder joint.
Avoid activities that put pressure on the shoulder joint – activities that involve repetitive motions such as chopping wood or holding the phone for long periods of time can put pressure on the shoulder joint and cause inflammation.
Reduce stress – stress can affect overall health, including shoulder joints. Taking time to reduce stress can help prevent frozen shoulder.
Quit smoking – smoking can affect blood flow to the tissues around the shoulder joint, which can cause inflammation and worsen frozen shoulder.
In conclusion
Frozen shoulder is a condition that can cause pain and restricted movement in a person’s shoulder joint. It can be treated with a variety of methods, including physiotherapy, manual therapy, medications, and surgery. To prevent frozen shoulder, you can do routine exercise, maintain proper posture, reduce activities that put pressure on the shoulder joint, reduce stress, and quit smoking. If you are experiencing frozen shoulder symptoms, it is recommended that you see a doctor to receive an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.